Texas escapes with win at Iowa State; Rhoads chides refs

Cyclones coach Paul Rhoads lets loose after his team loses to Texas, 31-30.

Iowa State Cyclones coach Paul Rhoads screams at the officials during their game against the Texas Longhorns at Jack Trice Stadium. Texas beat Iowa State 31-30.(Photo: Reese Strickland, USA TODAY Sport)

"I've got the privilege as the head coach of this football program to face my players, win or lose, and look them in the eye and (tell them) how proud I am of the work they put forth, the effort they gave."

He wasn't finished.

"To make a play on the 1-yard line with their backs against the wall -- clear to everybody -- and have it taken away from them . . .that's hard to express.

"You don't just put an arm around a guy and tell him it's O.K. when that happens to him. I'm so proud of the effort my kids gave to win this football game."

Cole Netten provided the Cyclones a 30-24 lead with a 29-yard field goal with 3:30 to play. That was the calm before Rhoads' storm.

The bottom line is that the Cyclones will travel to Texas Tech next week with a 1-3 record, but with the knowledge that they can hang with one of the six teams picked to win the conference.

Take away one play, and it's a different outcome – as long as it's not the Cyclones' 97-yard catch-and-run by Quenton Bundrage for a touchdown in the third quarter.

A do-over on Texas' final play of the first half – that's what Iowa State needed. But like an overturn of an officials' call – that isn't happening, either.

Thus, it was one of those Hail No, not again things, if you're an Iowa State football fan.

That 44-yard heave into the end zone with 4 seconds to play in the half that Texas' John Harris somehow caught among four defenders wasn't the only reason the Cyclones lost, it was just the most apparent, not only for a stunned crowd at Jack Trice Stadium Thursday night, but for Iowa State fans watching on ESPN.

The Longhorns' 75-yard drive that started with 33 seconds until halftime. It ended with Harris out-performing everyone in the end zone.

Their kid made a play," Rhoads said. "Our kids didn't. It's not the first long ball that's been thrown and completed. We had guys around. Their job was to knock it down. Their kid made a great, great play. I'd play the same coverage."